Chapter 13 - Balloons
1328 Words
#musicvibe - Can't Hold Us, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
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Valeria POV
I didn’t really know what to expect, but it sure wasn’t this.
Aidan put the suitcase on the ground and Garrett opened it.
“So what’s all this?” I asked. “And how is it supposed to help me gain control of my powers?”
Garrett didn’t reply, instead he fidgeted with something inside the suitcase and when he got up he was inhaling the air inside a large pink balloon.
“Balloons!” He squealed in a high-pitched voice due to the helium he inhaled.
I burst out laughing and stared at him in disbelief.
“Are you kidding me?” I giggled. “What are you doing?”
Aidan filled another balloon from the helium canister in the suitcase and tied it.
“Valeria, do you remember the turbine we built for my science fair?” He asked.
I snorted.
“Yeah, we almost got decapitated by the blades.” I replied.
“That’s because you blew the blades off the whole contraption with too much wind.” He laughed. “That’s my point.”
He waved the balloon in my face and smirked.
“Too much force, and this thing will pop.” He said. “Too little, and it will blow away.”
I started to see where they were going with this.
“Alright, I’m in.” I smiled. “When do we start?”
“Take a lap to warm up and we’ll set things up in the meantime.” Aidan suggested. “Have you tried flying since your heat?”
I shook my head.
“Well, give it a try, but don’t go too high or too fast.” Garrett shrugged.
I activated my quantum field and my shorts and tank top that I was wearing melted into a black combat suit. It was cutting edge new technology that I got from my time at MI6 and I had kept it even after I left.
I tapped into my powers and started running. Once I felt steady, I jumped. I lifted my feet off the ground and soared about 10 feet off the ground for a few seconds before falling down again. Luckily I managed to slow down and landed on my feet before trying again.
Once I had gotten my balance and air flow under control, I took off a little higher.
I flew away from the training grounds, and the wind whipped in my face. I didn’t really know how fast I was going, but I was hardly pushing it and the air zoomed past me.
I turned back to the castle, deciding to push it even further and exploring my limits a bit.
*
Tyson POV
Kayden and I had been in meetings all day, and I felt Dax starting to get restless as we were wrapping up some paperwork in my office.
“I miss mate.” He muttered.
I sighed, feeling the same way.
“How about we take a break from this?” I asked.
Kayden exhaled and stretched his arms over his head.
“Thank you.” He groaned. “I’m exhausted.”
We just got up when a loud shock wave blasted through the castle, making the windows shake.
I was immediately on high alert.
“Are we under attack?” I asked.
Kayden’s eyes fogged over as he mindlinked Warren, the general of the Royal army.
“Well… No.” He replied after a moment. “Let’s go outside.”
We practically ran out of the castle and saw a small crowd over at the training grounds.
When I got closer, I saw Valeria’s brother Aidan jumping up and down. Garrett was standing beside him looking equally excited and they high fived.
“I can’t believe that she actually did it!” Aidan squealed.
I saw a movement in the sky and saw Valeria come down for landing. Her feet hit the ground and she stumbled a little, narrowly saving herself for falling to the ground. I raised an eyebrow at her when she came closer, her hair in a tangled mess and her cheeks flushed. She was grinning from ear to ear as she stopped in front of me.
“I take it you just made the whole castle shake?” I asked.
Valeria’s smile vanished and she looked at me worriedly.
“Was anyone hurt?” She asked.
“I don’t think so.” I replied. “But why would you throw force fields at the castle?”
“I-I didn’t.” Valeria whispered and looked down.
“Dude, did you sleep in aerodynamic class?” Garrett exclaimed.
I frowned, and Aidan cut in.
“Valeria just broke the sound barrier.” He explained.
My eyes widened and I looked at Valeria.
“That’s what that was?” I asked.
Valeria blushed.
“Sorry.” She mumbled.
“You just went almost 800 miles per hour.” I deadpanned. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
Valeria shrugged.
“Me neither.” She admitted. “It was an accident.”
I picked up on her nervousness through the bond, so I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her to me.
“Please don’t do that again.” I whispered. “If you crashed while going that fast, there would be nothing left of you. I don’t want you to get hurt. And we just fixed all the windows that broke during your first shift, and I doubt that they would appreciate fixing them again.”
The frown on Valeria’s forehead deepened and I pecked her lips.
“I do think you look really hot in that suit though.” I whispered in her ear, and I felt her relax.
“I’m not mad at you, but try walking before you run, especially now when your powers are so unpredictable.” I added.
Valeria nodded and smiled at me.
“Alright.” She said. “I’m sorry.”
I shook my head.
“Stop apologizing.” I whispered before turning to Aidan.
“I’m glad you came here.” I smiled. “Do you have any ideas? How can we help?”
Aidan smiled and gave me a hula hoop. I frowned in confusion.
“I don’t understand.” I said.
Aidan pointed to the field beside us.
“Get over there and hold the hoop over your head.” He said and turned to Valeria. “You need to try getting the balloon through the hoop without it bursting.”
Valeria nodded and I jogged about fifty yards away until Aidan shouted at me to stop. I saw Kayden and Garrett pick up hoops as well and positioned themselves different distances away from where Valeria was standing.
Aidan released an orange balloon and it quickly flew upwards. Valeria raised her hands to push it back down and the balloon started flying where she wanted it to go.
When the balloon came closer, I had to brace myself as a sudden wind whipped in my face, almost knocking me to the ground.
“Lighter on the wind.” I shouted.
I flinched when the balloon popped a few feet away from me.
Valeria lowered her hands, looking frustrated.
“Alright, you work with a big field around the balloon to keep it where you want it, how about trying to make that field thinner.” Aidan suggested.
Valeria nodded and the second balloon was released.
This time, the wind wasn’t that strong, and Valeria directed the balloon into the hoop, making everyone cheer and clap.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw Valeria do a little happy dance, and I realized that it’s been a while since I saw her this happy. I knew that she was under a lot of pressure trying to familiarize herself with her new life, and I was happy that her family’s appearance helped her catch a break.
- Writer
